Migraine – Symptoms, Triggers and Treatment

Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Migraine is one of the worst forms of headache. Often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, migraine attacks can sometimes go on for days. A chronic condition that affects women more than men, the exact cause of migraine is still unknown.

A headache that’s sometimes unbreakable, migraine often comes with symptoms like

Genetics and environmental factors are believed to be the primary causes of migraine. The other trigger factors that are found to induce migraine are:

Food- certain kinds of food

Food additives like aspartame

Skipping meals

Caffeine and alcohol, especially wine

Stress at work/home

Hormonal changes

Physical factors

Intense physical pain

Change in climate or surroundings

Certain medicines like oral contraceptives

Sensory stimuli like Sun light and very bright lights

No sleep or too much sleep

Unusual smells

There are several medications that help get over a migraine attack, which fall under two categories- Preventive & Pain-relieving

One can take preventive medication to drastically bring down the frequency and intensity of the migraine attack. However, consciously avoiding trigger factors will also help. Here’s what one can do:

Sleep well

Avoid food that causes migraine

Have food on time

Drink plenty of water

Exercise regularly

Try to keep away stress and tension

Pain relieving medications, which are also known as acute or abortive treatment, help stop existing symptoms and reduce the intensity of migraine. One should have these medications only after consulting a doctor, and follow the prescribed medication pattern carefully.